Beer buzz for April 16-22, 2015

Gluten-free Common Thread for 2015

Madison’s Greenview Brewing Company will release a gluten-free version of this year’s Common Thread, the collaborative beer of Madison’s Craft Beer Week. The 2015 regular Common Thread is a Belgian Tripel made with barley, but Greenview’s take is made with sorghum, rice, millet, honey and a grain called teff.

Barley contains gluten and is a problem for those with celiac disease. Greenview co-owner Maureen Easton (who has the disease) and her husband, Trevor, brewed the beer on March 14, and it will be served at special events featuring Greenview during Madison Craft Beer Week, May 1-10.

Hops in many guises

Earlier this year Ale Asylum announced it would be releasing three new India Pale Ales in bottles in 2015. The first was Velveteen Habit; the second, High Coup, should be out within the next few weeks.

Ale Asylum has also been debuting one-off experimental batches made with different combinations of hops as its brewers determine which create the best aroma, bitterness and flavor. Among the limited draught-only releases have been IPAs called Lemmy (featuring Apollo and Amarillo hops), B2-D2 (Dr. Rudi and Amarillo hops), S’Poon (Pacific Gem, Wakatu and Mandarina Bavaria hops), and Jaded Not Faded (Southern Cross, Waimea and Mandarina hops).

Welcome, Stillmank

The beers of Stillmank Brewing (owned by Madison native Brad Stillmank) started turning up on local shelves this month. The Green Bay brewery has been making beers for the past couple of years, but only recently began Madison distribution. The brewery’s most common offerings locally are 16-ounce cans of Wisco Disco (a hoppy amber ale), Bee’s Knees (a honey rye ale) and Super Kind (IPA). Seasonals and limited releases might also be released in 22-ounce bombers.

Beers to watch for

Lake Louie is out with a new English-style mild brown ale called Nudge Nudge. It finishes at 4.9% ABV and 22 IBUs.

Hydro Street Brewing in Columbus gave its mug club members a sneak peek of its saffron ale recently. It’s a limited release, so those interested should plan a visit soon.

WBC in Verona previewed a trial batch of American wheat made with coriander (currently called Wisconsin Field Beer). It’s made with Wisconsin-grown wheat and oats, and is still being tweaked by Kirby Nelson, so won’t be out until summer.

Lakefront Brewery of Milwaukee just released an organic barrel-aged barley wine in 22-ounce bombers that ends up at 14% ABV.